Casting reel



Dec. 30, 1952 A. E. wHlTTlNGToN 2,623,705

CASTING REEL Filed 0G17. 5, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET l vBY @15%,

Dec. 30, 1952 A. E. WHITTINGTON CASTING REEL 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 Filed Oct. 5, 1950 Arf/:ur E Whittington INVENTOR.

9 BY l Ammo):

Patented Dec. 30, 1952 UNITED STATES itiTENT OFFICE CASTING REEL Arthur E. Whittington, Elkhart, Ind.

Application October 5, 1950, Serial No. 188,559

6 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to improvements in casting reels and more particularly Vto the type wherein provision is made for automatically braking the reel when the weight on the end of the line strikes the water.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved casting reel which. is adapted to freely permit the egress of the line from the reel during casting and wherein manual means are provided for maintaining an automatic brake out of contact with the reel.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of novel automatic braking means whereby slackening of the line will effect contact between a brake band and the reel to prevent further rotation of the reel and to further prevent the line from continuing its egress whereby fouling of the line may be prevented.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a means whereby the reel may be manually rotated for winding the line thereon and wherein the reel may be freely rotatable with respect to the manual winding means when it is desired to cast the line without accompanying rotation of the manual means.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent from the detailed description to follow. The best form in which I have contemplated applying my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the entire structure of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 1 with theA side plate covering the housing being removed and with parts in section;

Figure 3 `is'a horizontal longitudinal sectional view taken substantially alongthe line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 2 but wherein the braking means is shown in contact with the reel when the line is in its slackened position;

Figure `5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line -of Figure Ll; and

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the lever means provided with the brake means on one end.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, the numeral Ifdesignates generally the casting reel of the present invention `which is mounted in a housing designated generally by the numeral I2. The casting reel I0 is formed of areel It `which's rotatable bymeans of the manual winding means I6, an automatic brake means I3, a manually operable release means 22 for maintaining the automatic brake means I8 in inoperative position, a second automatic brake means 22 which is adapted to limit the speed of rotation of the reel means I li, a lever means 2li which is `adapted to maintain the manually operated means I6 in each of two positions for providing free rotationof the reel It when desired, and finally, a bearing support means for the reel I4.

As seen in Figure 1, the Vfishing rod comprises a handle portion 28 whichis of pistol grip form, a housing I2 and a barrel portion 38 from which extends the rod 32. The housing I2 is of elongated form, having open side walls andan enlarged portion 34 which is circularinlcross section and adapted to receive the reel means Hl. The housing I2 is formed with open sides and a pair of plates 36 and 38,l are securely positioned over the open sides by means of the screws Iii) to complete the housing. The side walls 3% and 38 are provided with projecting portions l2 and 4!! which are adapted to overlie the enlarged portion 34 of the housing I2` and which provide supporting means for the bearing structure 26. The projectingportion 44 ispro vided with a plurality of openings 46 to provide communication between the interior of the housing and the atmosphere.

At the forward endof'the housing I2, a pair of rollers 48 and 50 are provided..` The rollers it and 5t are circular in cross section and gradually reduce in diameter towards their central portions. As `seen best in Figure '3; the walls 36 and 33 are provided with recesses- 52 and bores 5ft for receiving the ends of the rollers 5E! and the pins 56 integrally formed therewith. Thus, it will be seen that the rollers 48 and 5i] are free to rotate within the housing but are arranged so that the extremities thereof will be free from fouling with the line 58 which is adapted to pass over the centralportions of the rollers. The forward wall 60 of the housing I2 is provided with an opening 62 through which the line 58 may pass;

The line 58 is adapted toV bewoundonthe reel I4 which essentially is comprised of a pair of disks 64 and 66, a spindle portion t8 and axially extending rods IIJ and I2 which are adapted to rotate with the reel Irl. integrally formed on the rod 'IIJ isla gear 74.

The bearing supporting `means 26 for, the casting reel I4 is best disclosed in Figure 5. `One of the bearing elements 16. is threadedly engaged in the threaded opening 18 in the side wall of the housing I2 and is comprised of an enlarged head portion 80 which is knurled for gripping and a reduced externally threaded portion 82 which is provided with a bearing recess 84 for receiving the rod 18.

The second bearing element 86 is formed with a knurled head 88, a cylindrical recess 90 and an externally threaded portion 92 for threaded engagement within the threaded opening 94 in the side wall of the housing I2. A piston 96 is reciprocably mounted within the cylindrical recess 90 and a spring 98 is positioned within the recess for normally urging the piston 96 outwardly against the juxtaposed end of the rod 12. A disk is secured to the inner surface of the projecting portion 44 by means of screws or the like at |02. The center portion of the disk |00 is provided with an opening for rotatably receiving the rod 12 for maintaining it in axial alignment within the housing. The disk |00 also Serves as a brake contacting surface which will more fully be described hereinafter.

The means for actuating the reel I4 designated generally by the numeral I6 is comprised of a handle mem-ber |04 which is secured on the end of the pin |06 by means of the screw |90. The pin |06 extends through the enlarged portion 42 of the housing l2 and has integrally formed on its inner end a spur gear I |0 which is adapted to mesh with the gear 14 whereby rotation of the handle |04 will effect rotation of the reel i4 through the pre-selected gear ratio between the gears ||0 and 14. The pin |06 is provided with a grooved element l2 which is adapted to move axially with the pin |06 when the pin is moved outwardly with the handle |04 to remove the gear ||0 for engagement with the gear 14 when it is desired to permit the reel i4 to rotate freely during casting.

A means is provided for maintaining the gear |I0 in either of its two positions, that is, in engagement with the gear 14 and disengaged from the gear 14. This means is designated generally by the numeral 24 and is shown best in Figure 3 as comprising a lever I|4 having a pair of offset end portions I 6 and |8 in substantially parallel relation to each other. the lever being rotatably disposed on the pin supported by the housing. The extremity of the end portion ||6 is notched and received in the grooved portion of the element I I2 on the pin |06 whereby the lever I I4 may be pivoted in response to outward movement of the handle |04. The free end of the portion I|8 of the lever ||4 is engaged in the angulated end |22 of a second lever |24 rotatably disposed on the pin I 26. The second lever |24 is provided with a pair of angulated portions |28 and |30 which are disposed on opposite sides of the pin |26 and are provided with faces |32 and |34 in angular relation to each other. The portions |28 and |30 of the lever |24 are formed of a magnetic material for a purpose to be presently described.

Looking now at Figure 2, it will be seen that the bottom portion |36 of the housing i2 is provided with a recess at |38 whereby a magnet |48 which is held therein by means of the retaining screw |42 having the knurled head |44 positioned on the exterior of the housing I2. A compressible spacer |46 underlies the magnet in the recess |38 to permit adjustment of the magnet with respect to the recess.

Looking once again at Figure 3, it will be seen that the lever |24 is juxtaposed to the magnet |40 and a selected one of the faces |32 or |34 is 4 adapted to magnetically engage the magnet |40 to retain .the lever |24 in each of its two positions with the result that the lever H4 is also maintained in one of its two positions. rThus, it will be seen that the gear ||0 may be maintained in engagement with the gear 14 or out of engagement with the gear 14 by the magnetic bar |40 and lever |24.

The automatic brake means I8 which is adapted to frictionally engage the reel i4 as the line 58 slackens is comprised of a lever which is best shown in perspective in Figure 6. The lever is comprised of an elongated shank portion |48 having a slot |50 therein whereby a magnet may be adjustably secured to the underside of the shank portion |48. Figure 4 shows the magnet |52 secured on the shank portion |48 by the screw |54 positioned within the slot |50. The lever is provided with an aperture |86 inthe enlarged portion |58 at one end of the shank |40 for pivotally mounting the lever within the housing I2. A brake band |60 is secured to the arcuate face |62 of the enlarged portion |58 and adapted to engage .the disk 64 of the reel i4 for a braking action. The enlarged portion |58 is also formed with a substantially U-shaped extension |64 which substantially overlies the shank portion |48 at one end and is provided for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The opposite end of the shank |48 is angulated at |66 and provided with an aperture |68 which forms a bearing for one end of the roller |10. An L-shaped element |12 extends laterally from the shank |48 at the angulated end |66 and has a bearing recess |14 in alignment with the aperture |68 to provide a bearing for the other end of the roller |10.

As seen best in Figures 2 and 4, the roller |10 is adapted to be positioned between the rollers 48 and 50 and on the opposite side of the line 58, being supported thereby when the line is taut. The magnet |52 is juxtaposed to the magnet |48 whereby the lever of the automatic brake means I8 will be pivoted towards the magnet |40 as the line 58 becomes slackened, thereby effecting contact between the brake band |60 and the periphery of the disk 64 of the reel I4. The housing I2 is provided with a stop screw |16 which is adapted to underlie the shank |48 to prevent its downward pivoting movement.

The finger operated means 24 manually deactivating the automatic brake means I8 is comprised of a plunger |18 extending through an opening in the housing I2 at a position convenient for contact by a iinger of the hand holding the handle 28. A lever |82 is pivoted within the housing on the pin |84 and has one end |88 received between the U-shaped extension |64 of the automatic brake means i6. The opposite end of the lever |82 is arcuated at |88 to overlie the reel |4 and has its terminal portion underlying the plunger |18 whereby inward movement of the plunger effects pivoting of the lever |82 which in turn eiiects pivoting of the automatic brake means I8 to its brake disengaged position. Figure 3 shows the lever |82 with the arcuated end |88 consisting of a pair of arcuated elements |90 and |92 jointed at their extremities by the plate |34 underlying the plunger |18. The arcuated elements |90 and |92 are pivotally mounted on the pin |84 and |96 respectively. The pin |96 is supported by the plate I 88 which extends downwardlyV from the upper wall of the housing |2.

The automatic brake means 22 for limiting the faoaafzors siliently mountedxin 'angular zreliation to .therface ofthe diskizii'lby means: of 'thesmountingf elements 2ll4`andi2ts; Afpair oli-brake pads iirand'lltii are mounted'.inspacedrelation to the-sectors 253i) `andgZ G2 i by the resilient flexible arms M2 and 2: hl

whichfhave theirxedends securedto the mountingelementslfi and 2G@ respectively; Thebrahe pads 208Hand.' 2 i larejuxtaposed to theface of the disk: .1Min-hereinabove described. It will thus be seenA thatas the reel I4 `rotatesupon casting,the blades 20-and`22 will move, outwardly `in responsetto the windresistance aiiorded thereby. The outward movement .of ,the blades willeiect outward pivotingfof the Vbralnenpads `2535 and 2id whereby` contact will be made :with .the V'disk l il D. Theufriction" between thepads 2h78 `and 'iilfand thefdisk .Idil increasesgthe frctional resistance as therotationafl speed of the. reel increases beyond a predetermined amount.

Figure .2`showsf the housing i2 being formed with avent holeZl to "permit drainageof the housing should, anyimoisture collect therein.

`From the foregoing description; taken in conjunction with the drawings, it is believed that a casting reel has been provided whichwill accomplish all of the objects hereinabove set'forth. Inasmuch as the operation of the casting reel shouldfbeobviousto one skilied in the art, a detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary. When it is desired tocast, the handle 5% is moved outwardlydisengaging the gear l il! from the gear 14, it being held in this position Aby means of the contact between the magnet lli@ and the face i3d of the lever f2s. The rod may be manipulated to castlthe line which will unwind from the freely rotatable reel is. At .the time of casting, one finger is `pressed against the plunger llto maintain. the `automatic brakingmeans I8 out of con` tact .with the reel l L Asthe line 58 is unwinding, the fingermaybe released from the plunger Ils andthe brake .band .Hill will be maintained out of contact with the diskls by means oi the support afforded by the line 58 underneath the roller l'l. Should the reel lll be unwinding at too high a rate, the automatic braking means 22 automatically opera-tes 'in response to the wind resistance of the blades Zilli and 2i2 to outwardly move the brake pads 258 and 2l@ into contact with the disk |80, thereby limiting the rotational speed of the reel Ill. When the bait strikes the Water, the line 58 will immediately slacken permitting downward movement of the roller l'lll to the position shown in Figure 4, thereby permitting contact between the brake band its and the dist: Sii. The magnet Mil will attract the magnet 52 to urge the continuedy contact between the brake band IS@ and the disk 54. This will effect a stoppage of the unwinding ci the line 58 and prevent fouling.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A casting reel comprising a housing having a reel rotatably disposed therein, a pair of spaced rollers mounted in the housing, and an automatic brake means mounted in said housing and engageable with said reel upon slackening of the line, the line being wound on said reel and extending out of one end of said housing, an intermediate portion of said line passing over the pair of spaced rollers, said automatic brake means including a lever pivotally mounted within said housing and having a brake band integrally formed with one end for engaging the reel, the

other `end Vof said lever being providedv withw a roller disposed between said pair of. .rollers and on the opposite side ofsaid' line "whereby when said line is taut, the brake bandV will be. out` of engagement with said reel Iand 'when the line slackens, the lever will 'pivotito `effect contact between the brake band and reel, saidlever being provided with a rstmagnetic element, a'second magnetic element adjustably mounted in` said housing in juxtaposition to said first magnetic element `and adapted to magnetically urgesai'd lever to brake contacting position and retain said lever in its brake contacting position.

2. A casting reel comprising a housing having a reel rotatably disposed therein, a pairof "spaced formed with one end,` the other end of Isaid lever being provided with a roller disposed between said pair of rollersI and on the opposite side of said line whereby when said line is taut, the brake band will lbe out of engagement with said reel and when the `line slackens, the lever Vwillpivot to effect contact between the brake band and reel, and a iinger operated means'actuatable to pivot said lever to a rst position with the brake band outlof contact with the reel, said finger operated means including a rockable member 'pivotally mounted in the housing, said lever including a U-shaped intermediate portion engaging said rockable member.

3. A casting reel comprising a housing having a reel rotatably disposed therein, al pair Vof spaced rollers mounted in the housing, and an Iautomatic brake means mounted in said housing and engageable with saidreel upon slackening of'the line, the line being wound on said reel and extending outiofione end of said housing, an intermediate `portion of said line passing over the pair of spaced rollers, said automatic brake'xneans including a lever pivotally mounted within said housing and having a brake band integrally formed with one end, the other end of said lever being provided with a roller disposed between said pair of rollers and on the opposite side oi said line whereby when said line is taut, the brake band will be out of engagement with said reel and when the line slaclrens, the lever will pivot to eiiect contact between the brake band and reel, anda finger operated means, said linger operated means including a second lever Ipivotally mounted in said housing and having an arcuated end overlying said reel, a plunger freely mounted in said housing and engageable with said arcuated portion, the other end of said second lever being adapted yto contact the first mentioned lever for pivoting the same to its iirst position with the brake band out of contact with the reel.

4. A casting reel comprising a housing having a reel rotatably disposed therein, a pair of spaced rollers mounted in said housing, and an automatic brake means mounted in said housing and engageable with said reel upon slackening of the line, the line being wound on said reel and extending out of one end of said housing, an

intermediate portion of said line passing over the pair oi spaced rollers, said automatic brake means including a lever pivotally mounted withpar in VsaidA housing and having a brake band integrally formed with one end, the other end of said lever being provided with a roller disposed between said pair of rollers and on the opposite side of said line whereby when said line is taut, the brake band will be out of engagement with said reel and when the line slackens, the lever will pivot to eiect contact between the brake band and reel, said lever being formed with an oiset U-shaped intermediate portion, and a iinger operated means, including a rockable member having an end engaging said oiset portion to pivot said lever to a rst position with the brake band out of contact with the reel.

5. A casting reel comprising a housing having a reel rotatably disposed therein, a pair of spaced rollers mounted in the housing, and an automatic brake means mounted in said housing and engageable with said reel upon slackening of the line, the line being wound on said reel and extending out of one end of said housing, an intermediate portion of said line passing over the pair of spaced rollers, said automatic brake means including -a lever pivotally mounted within said housing and having a brake band integrally formed with one end, the other end of said lever being provided with a roller disposed between said pair of rollers and on the opposite side of said line whereby when said line is taut, the brake band will be out of engagement with said reel and when the line slackens, the lever will pivot to effect contact between the brake band and reel, said lever being formed with an odset fangulated portion, and a linger operated means, said finger operated means including a second lever mounted in said housing and having an arcuated end overlying said reel, a plunger freely mounted in said hou-sing and engageable with Said arcuated portion, the other end of said second lever being 'adapted to contact the oiset portion of said first mentioned lever to pivot the same to a iirst position with the brake band out of contact with the reel.

6. A casting reel comprising a housing having a reel rotatably disposed therein, :and an automatic brake means mounted in said housing and responsive t-o slackening of ithe line for braking the rotational movement of said reel, and manually operable means for effecting rotation of said reel, said last named means including a iirst gear on the spindle of said reel, a second gear mounted on a pin rotatably and reciprocably disposed in said housing, a handle on said pin for eiecting rotation of said second gear and for reciprocating the same into and ourt of engagement with said rst gear, and mea-ns for maintaining said pin in its inner and outer positions, said last named means including a lever having a pair of offset end portions, one of said end portions being movable with said pin, the other of said end portions being engageable with one end of a second lever, said second lever having a pair of faces angularly disposed Awith respect to each other and disposed on each side of the pivotal axis of said second lever, a magnetic bar secured within said housing and juxtaposed to said pair of faces whereby said second lever may be pivoted to a rst and second position with said faces selectively maintained in magnetic contact with said magnetic bar, said automatic brake means including a rockable lever pivoted in said housing and movable into and out of braking engagement with the reel, and a magnet supported by said rockable lever and attracted to said magnetic bar for movement into engagement with said reel.

ARTHUR E. NI-IITTINGTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the nie of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 496,654 Heskett May 2, 1893 506,094 Boardman Oct. 3, 1893 1,892,541 Smelser Dec. 27, 1932 1,952,755` Henze Mar. 27, 1934 2,059,519 Harris Nov. 3, 1936 2,188,062 Schroder Jan. 23, 1940 2,384,561 MuiTett Seprt. 11, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 5,531 Great Britain Nov. 5, 1914 

